and honour are generally considered in this connexion as differing only in degree, the former expressing the reverence to superiors, the latter the respect to equals.
(8) Owe no man any thing, hut to love one another, &c. That is, acquit yourselves of all obligations, except love, which is a debt which must remain ever due. This is the common, and, considering the con- text which abounds with commands, the most natural interpretation of this passage. The idea which a cursory reader might be disposed to attach to these words, in considering them as a direction not to contract pecuniary debts, is not properly expressed by them ; although the prohi- bition, in its spirit, includes the incurring of such obligations when we have not the certain prospect of discharging them. The command, how- ever is, ' Acquit yourselves of all obligations, tribute, custom, fear, ho- nour, or whatever else you may owe, but remember that the debt of love is still unpaid and always must remain so, for love includes all duty, since he that loves another fulfils the law.'
(9) For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not hill, Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not hear false loitness. Thou, shalt not covet, and if there be any other commandment it is hriejly comprehended in this saying, namely. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. This verse is evidently a confirmation of the declaration at the close of the pre- ceding one, that love includes all our social duties. This is further con- firmed in the following verse.
(10) Love worheth no ill to his neighbour, therefore love is the ful- filling of the laiu. That is, as love delights in the happiness of its objects, it effectually prevents us from injuring those we love, and, con- sequently, leads us to fulfil all the law requires, because the law requires nothing which is not conducive to the best interests of our fellow men. He, therefore, who loves his neighbour with the same sincerity that he loves himself, and consequently treats him as he would wish, under similar circumstances, to be treated by him, will fulfil all that the law enjoins ; hence the whole law is comprehended in this one command, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
(11) ^nd that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep ; for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. From this verse to the end of the chapter, Paul exhorts his readers to discharge the duties already enjoined, and urges on them to live a holy and exemplary life. The consideration by which this exhortation is enforced, is, that the night is far spent and that the day is at hand, the time of deliverance is fast approaching. The words rendered and that are by many considered as elliptical, and the word do is supplied ; " And this do.'' The demonstrative pronoun, however, is frequently used to mark the importance of the connexion between two circumstances for the case in hand, and is, therefore, often equivalent to the phrases, and indeed, the more, &c. So in this case, ' We must discharge our various duties, and that knowing, &c. i. e. the rather, because we know, &c. ;' compare